Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in the Harry Potter universe J.K. Rowling does. The title "Waking the Witch" is inspired by the Kate Bush song of the same name. I do not own the song either. It can be found on Kate Bush's album Hounds of Love.The name Rosaleen was inspired by the Neil Jordan film The Company of Wolves. I don't own any of the characters in that film, either! I do, however, own my Rosaleen MacDuff Jasper, who is of no relation or incarnation of Neil Jordan's character in his film.
Waking the Witch
by Leah Pensotti
Chapter Nine: La Belle et La Bete (Beauty and the Beast)
"My darling lives in a world that is not mine.
An old child misunderstood...out of time.
Timeless is the creature who is wise,
And timeless is the prisoner in disguise.
Oh who is the beauty...who the beast?
Would you die of grieving when I leave?
Two children too blind to see,
I would fall in your shadow...I believe."
--Stevie Nicks, "Beauty and the Beast"
The walk to Flourish and Blotts was a very quiet one. Rosaleen could tell that Remus was not happy with the way she had offered herself as bait to catch Heathcliff Collinwood, but she knew that he would jump at the chance if she put herself out there in that manner. As they made their way to the entrance of the store, Rosaleen could see that Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Tonks and the Weasleys were at the counter paying for the teenagers books. They had made it back just in time.
As the group stepped out of the crowded store, Rosaleen flashed a happy smile and they all smiled in return. Hermione made her way up to her new professor and pointed to a shop down the way.
"That store is where I got Crookshanks, Professor Jasper. Would you like to go there and have a look? It's called the Magical Menagerie."
Rosaleen followed Hermione's extended finger and felt a pull of curiosity overtake her. She would like to have a look at all the animals. She shrugged and looked from Hermione to Lupin, who shrugged as well.
"I think I should like that very much." She smiled again and Mrs. Weasley interjected.
"You all should be at the Leaky Cauldron at five, that's when we'll be having dinner. Stay close to Professor Jasper and Professor Lupin and mind what they say. Tonks will be coming with us. In other words, don't get into any trouble." Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny nodded in agreement with Mrs. Weasley and soon they were on their way to the Magical Menagerie.
Rosaleen carried her purchases down Diagon Alley and to where they were supposed to meet Mr and Mrs. Weasley at the Leaky Cauldron. Well, she carried most of her purchases and had Lupin helping her with a few packages. She had bought new robes for when she taught, a pack of new tarot cards (to which Ron scoffed and muttered under his breath something about Professor Trelawney). She had used the cards before, not for divination particularly, but as a sort of a coin toss. There were many questions that she wanted a little insight on at the moment.
She also bought a handful of new quills and many rolls of parchment to aid in creating lesson plans. But the biggest purchase she had made all day slept in a traveling case and was being carried by Lupin. At the Magical Menagerie, Rosaleen had bought a sleek looking brown and black kitten with bright yellow eyes. The kitten was called Persephone by the shop keeper and Rosaleen felt an affinity for her immediately.
Rosaleen looked behind her and saw the four teenagers bringing up the rear. Hermione had her nose in her new charm book as she walked while Harry, Ron and Ginny talked about the first day of school and what their class schedule would be like. Rosaleen could not help but smile, they were very well behaved and she had a good time shopping with them and hearing about their previous experiences with their former Defense Against the Dark Arts professors, which had run the gamut from bad to worse, with nothing but high praise for Lupin during his time at Hogwarts.
When they entered the doors to the Leaky Cauldron, Lupin helped Rosaleen stack her bundles and bags and Persephone at the tables where the Weasleys had already set up shop. He met her eyes for a moment, and knew that he wanted nothing more than to tell her everything he felt and everything he thought down to the last exhausting detail. He doubted, even with the help of magic, that he would be able stop thinking about her.
Rosaleen smiled at him and then she felt a warm hand on her arm. She turned slowly to see Mrs. Weasley's very maternal face looking at her.
"I hope they weren't any trouble, dear. I know that sometimes they can be a handful." Rosaleen chuckled and shook her head.
"They were wonderful, Mrs. Weasley. I quite enjoyed my time with them." Mrs. Weasley pulled Rosaleen by the arm and lead her to where Mr. Weasley was talking to a familiar looking younger man with red hair in a ponytail. Mrs. Weasley tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around.
"Bill, dear, this is Rosaleen Jasper. She's the American witch that your father and I have been speaking so much about. She'll be the Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts this year." Bill extended his hand to her warmly and Rosaleen took it without hesitation, all the while Mrs. Weasley continued with her introductions.
"Rosaleen, this is Bill, mine and Arthur's eldest child. He works at Gringotts here in Diagon Alley and also helps with our organization." Rosaleen smiled and nodded, not really knowing what to say during this rather awkward attempt at matchmaking. Before either of them could make a noise, Mrs. Weasley excused herself to greet Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny and to wait for Fred and George.
"Mum's told me so much about you. In fact, your all she seems to talk about. I should thank you, really. She hasn't mentioned my hair since you arrived!" Rosaleen chuckled lightly and tried not to notice that everyone at the table was looking at them intently, like they may spontaneously combust. Rosaleen did see Lupin out of the corner of her eye; he just looked on with an amused look on his face.
"Your mother speaks too highly of me. Your family has been wonderful to me since I arrived. I suppose that I will see you around, seeing as though we are working for the same, er, place." Rosaleen put special emphasis on the last word and Bill understood what she was saying.
"Yes, I believe you will." As Fred and George made their way to the table, Mrs. Weasley beckoned everyone to sit. Bill pulled out the chair for her and she sat book cased by Bill Weasley and Hermione with Lupin directly across from her. He looked as though he were going to break out in a fit of laughter.
However, somewhere inside of him, he worried that she would take up with Bill Weasley. Though that seemed far fetched, seeing as though he was still seeing Fleur Delacour. Throughout the meal, Bill asked Rosaleen questions about her schooling and life in Boston and working for the monastery.
"I went to a muggle university for some time, I took classes in the time I spent away from the monastery. I hold what they call a PhD. I could teach in muggle universities." This discussion piqued Hermione's interest fully.
"You have a PhD? In what?" Rosaleen chuckled at the tone in the girl's voice and answered lightly.
"History." Hermione raised an eyebrow to the professor and looked quizzical.
"But you're so young to hold such an advanced degree. You're only 25. Where did you find the time to do such intensive work with so much else to do by way of the monastery?" Rosaleen sighed and saw that Hermione had gotten an inkling. In all actuality it had taken her almost 20 years and five different schools to finish that part of her education. She had earned her PhD in 1973 from Boston College. She took mostly night classes and had to repeat some of them thanks in part to her nocturnal and out of the ordinary extracurricular activities getting intensely in the way.
Rosaleen met eyes with Hermione, who was still waiting raptly for an answer and gave her an excuse that the young woman would best understand.
"I worked non-stop and barely slept." Hermione shook her head with understanding and cracked a wry smile.
"You must've nearly gone mad."
Rosaleen shook her head, Hermione had no idea how true that was.
After dinner that night and after many good conversations; everyone at the table was enjoying desserts and tea while Rosaleen felt the urge to get out in the early evening air. She excused herself from the table and Lupin looked at her in a concerned manner.
"Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine Remus, all I need is some air." She smiled at him assuredly and he nodded in understanding.
"Shall I come with you?" Rosaleen shook her head.
"No, I'll be fine, besides, I'll only be a moment." She walked away slowly and opened the door that led to Diagon Alley. Rosaleen leaned against the front of the building and soaked in the fleeting sunset that was soon disappearing. Just as the orange sky began to burn a starry black, she felt as if someone was watching her.
In a snap decision, Rosaleen spun on her heel to go back inside the Leaky Cauldron, but instead found herself confronted by one Severus Snape. He sneered at her with a very prominent look of superiority. Rosaleen grumbled under her breath and attempted to sneer just as harshly in return. Snape stepped closer to her and spoke in a suspicious way.
"Well, well. If it isn't Professor Jasper. Taking a break from your pesky lap dog Lupin are you?"
"He is not my 'lap dog' and I would thank you not to speak of him badly. What are you doing here? Using your abnormally unique social skills to menace unsuspecting passers by?"
Snape squinted his dark eyes in disfavor and stepped so close that he had backed her into the brick of the building. Rosaleen remembered flashes of her dreams and thought them to be too similar. Snape drew in a deep breath and looked down at her.
"Is there something you wish to say to me, professor?"
Rosaleen backed off the wall and nodded, "Indeed there is. What did you do to that potion? Why do you wish harm on me? Do I somehow threaten you or your plans?"
"Did the potion not work? Are you still having nightmares?" Snape asked, confusion thick in his deep voice. Rosaleen laughed bitterly and responded.
"I think you know what it did to me, Professor Snape. I know you tampered with it." She saw something of a smile pull at the corner of Snape's lips and he spoke again.
"And why do you think I would tamper with it? For I did nothing of the sort. I only made the potion that Lupin asked me to."
Rosaleen looked at him discerningly. She did detect a hint of defensiveness in his voice and wondered if he was telling the truth.
Impossible. Snape still looked at her harshly, but offered a low growl in her direction.
"If you think that I tampered with it, I will make it again and this time you are welcome to come and observe and see for yourself that there is nothing amiss." Rosaleen thought it over and sighed. She would like to have something to block out the terrors of her past, however, spending time alone with Snape seemed less than desirable. She mulled the idea over in her head and she released a hesitant sigh.
"And when shall this take place?" Rosaleen could not look at him when she said that, it frustrated her to give him the satisfaction of knowing that she needed something from him.
"Tomorrow night if you wish. The sooner the better, I presume." Rosaleen nodded and Snape gave her an eerie look and walked away.
"Good evening, Professor Jasper. I will be in touch." Rosaleen shivered and turned to go back inside to the Leaky Cauldron.
That evening, they said their goodbyes to Fred, George and Bill Weasley and hitched a ride on the floo network back to Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Rosaleen said goodnight to the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione and Tonks and made her way to her room with all of her packages in hand with Lupin following closely behind carrying Persephone in her case. Rosaleen gently kicked open the door and dropped everything in the corner of her room.
Lupin placed Persephone on the bed and then Rosaleen opened the case and scooped up the little brown and black ball of fluff in her arms. She sat on the bed and the kitten batted at the buttons on her coat and she giggled happily.
Lupin looked on curiously, Rosaleen looked really happy for the first time since he had known her. He could not help but chuckle either; it was a funny sight to see her covered in soot from the fireplace and cradling a kitten. Rosaleen looked up at him with those yellow-green eyes that usually looked so sad, but now had a hint of felicity in them.
Rosaleen released Persephone on her bed and stood in front of Lupin. She looked sown at her hands uncomfortably and then back up to him and decided what to say.
"Remus, I'm sorry about this afternoon at Knockturn Alley. I'm sorry that I made you uncomfortable with my ideas on how to catch Collinwood. However, we both know what he's really after." Lupin looked down at Rosaleen and sighed.
"I know what he's after, Rosaleen. I am just not entirely sure of the whole story. You have kept me very much in the dark. I understand that some of the occurrences may be hard to recount..." Rosaleen cut him off a little abruptly and spoke.
"Not hard, Remus. They're terrifying."
He looked at her apologetically, knowing that he had stepped over a boundary. Before he could open his mouth to apologize, Rosaleen put a hand to his lips and whispered lowly.
"I will tell you, Remus. But all in due time. There are many things that I am still grappling to understand myself." Slowly, she took off her jacket and tossed on the bed, making Persephone jump. Rosaleen unbuttoned the top two buttons of her shirt and pulled it below her shoulder.
Lupin froze and felt a tinge of blush creep to his face. What was she doing? His eyes fell on the bare skin from the base of her neck, her white shoulder and the deep hollow of her collarbone. She reached for his hand and led it to the inch above her collarbone. Lupin pulled away, but she grabbed his hand.
"What are you doing, Rosaleen?" She looked up and saw that he looked confused, perhaps a little scared. She fought the urge to smile and placed his fingers to the inch of bare skin that bore two punctured scars that were a faded vermillion in color.
"This, Remus, is the place where all of my troubles began."
He felt the indentions of scar tissue beneath his fingertips and knew that this, indeed, was where all of her troubles began. This is where Heathcliff Collinwood had bit her. He drew in a sharp breath.
"I have scars nearly identical to these. They're on my leg, though I was very small when it happened." Lupin looked moved his eyes from where his hand rested and met eyes with her.
Unaware what he was doing, Lupin stepped closer to her and Rosaleen looked up at him timidly. She could feel the pulse in his fingers quicken on her skin and his breath on her cheek. She looked at him and saw his kind face and a helpless look in his eyes and could not step away. He bent his head to hers and wondered if he had completely lost his mind. His lips hovered above hers, deciding whether or not to go through with it; though finally the impulse won out.
As their lips met, Lupin felt the cool tenderness of her soft mouth and Rosaleen shut her eyes. The emotion in the kiss was nearly heartbreaking and Rosaleen had to wrap her arms about his shoulders to keep her balance. His arms enfolded themselves around her waist and secured Rosaleen against him. This was by far the bravest thing he had ever attempted in his life. As he pulled away, he saw that her eyes were still closed and that she still clung to him.
Instantly, a pang of guilt overtook him. He should not have done it, he promised he wouldn't even let his thoughts stray in that direction after having that horrible dream just nights before. Lupin sighed sadly and whispered under his breath.
"I should not have done that."
Rosaleen opened her eyes slowly after hearing what Lupin had just spoken. He looked devastated and she felt confusion wash over her. She placed a hand to his cheek and tried to comfort him.
"Remus? What's wrong?"
He brushed her hand away gently and released her from his keep. Lupin backed away from her a step and gave her an apologetic look. The fact that she had not pushed him away made what he was going to do even harder than he could imagine. The fact that she had fit so well into his embrace made it bloody near impossible.
"You must forgive me, Rosaleen. I should not have gotten carried away like that."
Rosaleen sunk deeper into confusion and raised an eyebrow. From what had happened she thought that they had both rather enjoyed it.
"Why?"
Lupin could barely look at her and say what he was going to say without wanting to pull her to him and do it all over again. He saw that her eyes burned with answered and he cursed himself silently to leading her into so much confusion. He looked a little defeated and forced himself to look at her directly.
"I put you in danger."
"By kissing me?"
"Yes. You are here for a reason, Rosaleen. You do not need a beast such as I getting in your way."
She looked at him and saw a very sad gleam in his eyes and felt as though she had been torn apart. She stepped closer to him, wanting answers and to understand.
"A beast? Is that how you see yourself?"
Lupin nodded and Rosaleen continued, "You do not know the meaning of the word. You are not a beast, Remus. You are a good man and a faithful friend. You are the most amiable wizard I know. You do yourself disservice speaking that way. You are a victim of circumstance, yet you go out of your way to save others. If you were truly a beast you would embrace it fully and do nothing to stop it. If anyone is a beast it is me. I have done things to other humans that I regret to this day, things that I will never tell another living soul. It is me you fear, Remus. It's not yourself."
"No, it's not." Lupin raised his hand to stop her and he found himself placing his hands on her arms. He shook his head and regretted having the encounter at all. Rosaleen looked up at him and finally put two and two together.
"It's the dream you had. The one where you hurt me."
"I killed you Rosaleen. There was blood everywhere and on my own paws..."
"You won't hurt me, Remus. I've been through a lot and have found myself resilient. I am not a glass doll. I am not fragile. Don't be scared of me..."
She pulled him to her and snaked her arms around his neck and he wanted no more than to fall into her arms completely. Rosaleen rested her head in the crook of his shoulder and held him. He wanted it to go on forever, but he knew that it had to end here. Lupin squeezed her tightly and then released her. Rosaleen saw the finality in his eyes and knew then that his mind was set.
Lupin touched her pale cheek gently and then sighed, "I'm sorry Rosaleen, but I fear myself and I would never be forgiven if I hurt you."
As he turned and left the room, Rosaleen fell back on her bed and tried to sort out everything that had just occurred in a matter of minutes. Persephone attached herself to Rosaleen's side and purred in contentment as dusk faded into dark night.
It was awhile before Remus Lupin was lulled to sleep that night, his mind kept replaying the kiss and the look on Rosaleen's face when he rebuffed her. He had nearly pushed himself upon her and now he pushed her away. He was haunted by the way she had responded to him; he never imagined that she would return the kiss...
As he trailed off into a fitful sleep, Remus found himself in a strange and dark place.
He was sitting on the floor next to a disheveled lump on the floor. The door of the room swung open and men in 19th century garb entered. One carried a cup and the other a great glass bottle filled with a transparent liquid. They walked to where Lupin sat and kicked at the lump beside him on the floor. When the creature sat up, Lupin saw a very familiar face.
It was Rosaleen.
"Get up you poor beast, so we might exercise the demon from you."
Lupin saw the wildness of fear in her eyes and saw that they burned not green, but a bright yellow. She bared her fangs in fear and stood up quickly. Lupin stood beside her and saw that her legs were attached to five foot chains and so were her hands. His stomach dropped in realization that the men had come to torture her.
One of the men pulled a large wooden crucifix from behind his back and pressed it to Rosaleen's chest. A faint trail of smoke emitted from her skin and Rosaleen howled in pain. Tears sprung to her eyes and she began to beg.
"Please, no more. You broke me. I shan't hunt or feed anymore. Please, release me."
The other man stepped next to the one that still held the crucifix to her body and he snickered cruelly, "And why shall we do that, witch? So you can work your dark spells on the city? It is our duty to reform you, even if we must keep you locked up and starving for all eternity. You, a vampire and a witch, should suffer for your sins."
"But I do not do dark spells...I am so weak..."
Lupin looked on in horror as the scene played out and stepped in between the men and Rosaleen, but they continued on, looking through him as though he wasn't there. He turned his back to the men and studied Rosaleen. She looked older, as vampires do when they do not feed as they should. She wore a dirty, white shift dress and avoided looking down at the cross that burned into her chest. The man with the cup reached it out to her invitingly and Lupin saw that there was blood in it. He tempted her with the cup and she reached her hands out to accept it.
The man pulled back and the other put away the crucifix and emptied the glass bottle over her head. Rosaleen shrieked in pain and parts of her hair turned white. Her outstretched arms turned red and blotchy and she fell on to the floor in pain. Lupin chased after the men and yelled curses at them. Before they exited the room, the man with the cup threw open a window and a stream of sunlight fell across the floor. Where Rosaleen laid, still reeling from what had happened just moments before, picked her pitiful form up and scurried to the corner that was still dark.
Lupin awoke with a terrified start, and knew that this was not a dream. It was one of Rosaleen's memories. He sat up in bed, his skin glistened with a cold sweat and his body chilled with the recollection of what she had endured.
The night had become longer, more complicated and heartbreaking than he could have imagined.
A/N: Next up–Remus confronts Rosaleen about her memory, only to find that she had seen one of his. Remus keeps his distance and Rosaleen finds herself in Snape's dungeon and in a compromising position. Hermione still thinks something is amiss and recruits Harry and Ron to help her uncover the truth. However, it is a harder nut to crack than anything Hermione has ever encountered before.
To Miria: Hermione will find out Rosaleen's secret in a little while. She has a hard time convincing people that something is wrong with Rosaleen, but in true Hermione fashion, she will uncover the clues one by one! Thanks for the Review!
To Erlina Elf: I went to MI to visit some old friends and they took me to the Warped Tour. It was awesome. Saw so many great bands and got a few autographs...sigh...how I miss summer! Anyway, thanks for the review and I hope to hear from you soon!
To AstaraelUndomiel: Remus made his move, but automatically felt guilty. Soon he will regret this when Rosaleen takes up with Snape. But I believe that she will be thinking about Remus the whole time and he will pine for her and continue to battle his feelings. I loved Underworld, too. Kate Beckinsale is fantastic. I loved the colors in that movie and the decadence of the vampires. Thanks for the review! Hope you continue to read and review!
To Sinnya: Snapey is here and will be more prominent from now on as he and Rosaleen become entangled. Keep your eyes open for Chapter ten–you'll want to read it!
To Dianatyne: Glad you like Rosaleen! I hope you continue to follow the story as it's mystery unfolds!
To Angel of Harlem: Hey lady! I hope you liked this chapter! I am hoping you'll have a theme song picked out after reading it! Smoochies for Remus and in the other story, smoochies for Faramir. That should happen sometime next week, by the way! Let me know what you think. I can't wait to hear from you! Love ya!